I recently took my new Mach-E on a road trip through the northwest, covering 700 miles. I’ve done this drive many times before, but this was my first time doing it in an EV.
To be honest, I had a little bit of range anxiety at first, especially when my battery dropped below 30% in the middle of nowhere in Oregon. Even though my app told me I’d make it to the next charger with plenty of power, I found myself adjusting the AC and second-guessing everything. But as I settled into the trip, the fear disappeared.
Before the trip, I wasn’t excited about waiting up to 45 minutes for charging stops. I’m usually the type who doesn’t want to waste time getting to my destination. But those stops actually gave me time to eat, stretch, and even take a nap. I arrived feeling way more refreshed than usual, and the Mach-E’s comfortable seats and cabin definitely helped.
I usually stop three times to fill up my Tacoma, and I also had to stop three times with the Mach-E in about the same spots. But this time, I ended up spending about $110 on charging, versus $250 on gas for the Tacoma.
The Mach-E handled great on the road, especially crossing three mountain passes. The instant power made it easy to overtake slower cars, and BlueCruise was a game-changer—it practically drove itself on the way back.
Sure, I spent a little more time charging, but the overall experience was still fantastic. EV road trips are definitely different, but I think I prefer them now.
I don’t really get range anxiety, but I definitely worry about whether the next charger will actually be working. I’m always stressed that I’ll arrive and it’ll be broken, especially with Electrify America stations.
Great post! What year and trim is your Mach-E? I do a 500-mile trip from Seattle to Boise a couple of times a year, and I’ve noticed that charging has become much easier over the last year. The addition of Circle K, Pilot-Flying J, and Starbucks-Volvo chargers has been a game-changer for me. I stop 4-5 times during the drive, and while the stops are a bit longer with the EV, I don’t mind it anymore.
@Robert
Thanks! It’s the premium model with the extended range. My route is from Portland to western Montana, so we probably cross paths! I also stopped at a Flying J, with the other two stops at Fred Meyer and Walmart. Do you use an app to plan your stops?
It’s great to hear a successful road trip without relying on the Supercharger network!
But the longer stops gave me time to eat, stretch, and even take a nap… I arrived feeling way more refreshed.
This is my experience too. Road trips can actually be more relaxing when you’re not rushing from point A to point B. It’s a different mindset, but I enjoy it a lot more now.
How did Ford’s navigation compare to A Better Route Planner (ABRP)? I’m still manually planning trips with PlugShare and ABRP but wonder if the car’s built-in system is better.
@Thomas
I tried using Ford’s navigation, but I relied more on ABRP during the trip. Both suggested similar charging stops, but ABRP was more flexible, even if it took a little longer to get used to.
sorphia said:
I had a similar experience with my Leaf during a 184-mile round trip into the California desert. Once I learned to trust ABRP, the stress melted away.
That app is a lifesaver! I found out about it from this forum, and it’s how I planned my whole trip.
@Gabriel
Are you using an OBD2 dongle with it? Once the app learns your car’s efficiency, it’s spot on with its predictions. If it says I’ll arrive home with 3%, I’ll usually arrive with 2-4%.
kwame said: @Gabriel
Are you using an OBD2 dongle with it? Once the app learns your car’s efficiency, it’s spot on with its predictions. If it says I’ll arrive home with 3%, I’ll usually arrive with 2-4%.
I didn’t know that was an option! I just entered my car’s info and used the GPS for navigation.
@Gabriel
Here’s a link: https://www.iternio.com/abrp-obd. It’s worth the investment and definitely helps ease range anxiety. I also got a Tesla adapter for peace of mind when using their chargers.
I’ve taken five long road trips in my 2023 Lightning ER since I bought it six months ago, totaling around 10,000 miles, and I absolutely love it! I don’t feel range anxiety either—I just drive until it’s time to charge. I use Ford’s navigation and ABRP, and they’ve worked great. Between CCS networks and Tesla Superchargers, it’s been much cheaper than gas.
For me, charging stops are a chance to stretch, grab a snack, and take a break. I don’t miss the non-stop driving in my old ICE vehicle—it’s so exhausting.
EVs are incredible in the mountains. I used to drive a 2010 CR-V, and it would struggle up steep climbs, but my EV zips right through without any loss of power. It’s so much fun on winding roads!
You spent an extra two hours charging, but if you make less than $70 per hour, you actually saved money compared to driving a gas car. It would’ve cost you an extra $140 in fuel!
Imani said:
You spent an extra two hours charging, but if you make less than $70 per hour, you actually saved money compared to driving a gas car. It would’ve cost you an extra $140 in fuel!
I had a similar thought. The gas savings and the ability to take a nap were definitely worth it.
@Gabriel
What MPG do you get in your Tacoma? Based on the $250 fuel cost for 700 miles, it seems like you’re only getting 11.2 MPG. That seems low—wouldn’t it be closer to 15-20 MPG?